SBI concludes shooting Jenkins was justified

Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff

Friday

Aug 30, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2013 at 10:01 PM

The State Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney Scott Thomas have determined that a Vanceboro police officer was justified in shooting an armed man who allegedly shot and injured three people Aug. 20.

The State Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney Scott Thomas have determined that a Vanceboro police officer was justified in shooting an armed man who allegedly shot and injured three people Aug. 20.

Thomas announced Friday afternoon the results of an SBI inquiry into the Streets Ferry Road shooting of John Aites Jenkins by Vanceboro Police Officer Jason Lovick.

Thomas said his release of the information came after he summarized the agency’s report in a letter to Vanceboro Police Chief Jimmy Jenkins, who has no relation to alleged shooter.

“We have concluded that the shooting by Officer Lovick was a justified use of lethal force,” Thomas wrote in the letter. “The lethal force was used as a last resort as Jenkins, who had already shot at several people and injured them, continued to fire upon individuals. Therefore, the action taken by Officer Lovick was lawful and no criminal charges will be filed as a result of the shooting.”

Chief Jenkins, who like most connected to the case expected that outcome, said, “We are fortunate that it took as short a time as it did. I think we will get Officer Lovick back by the end of next week. We still have an internal investigation ongoing,” which is required by standard operating procedure and includes a psychological evaluation.

He said the officer shooting, “is first in my career and I believe it’s the first in the Town of Vanceboro’s history.”

homas said he met with SBI Agent R. Reeves Thursday to review the findings and both he and the SBI and concluded that the shooting was a justified use of lethal force, given the facts and circumstances at the scene.

All of those shot in the incident have been released from acute medical care including John Jenkins, 82, on Thursday, after which he was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, one count of discharging a weapon into occupied property and one count of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.

Being held in lieu of $2 million bail, he was then taken to the Division of Adult Correction in Raleigh under a Safekeeping Order while awaiting his next court appearance in Craven County District Court on Sept. 19.

Vanceboro Police Chief Jenkins said he hired Lovick, a former Lenoir County deputy sheriff, in December 2012. The officer is married and has two children.

Although Jenkins does not meet formally with town officials on the incident until next week, “the Town offered Lovick any support he would need as far as extra care during this time. Officials stepped forward to try to assist in any way they could. They were 100 percent supportive.”

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5665 and sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.

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